Camden Pheon, D8
Camden stood in line and waited for the monster boy from 7 to finish. He obviously picked the 'sullen, angry, silent' angle, which works for a boy his size. He only answered in short, choppy sentences and didn't explain much. The buzzer sounded for the 7 boy to leave the stage and for Flim to take his place. She almost tripped on her long dress, which pooled around her feet. Camden is glad that he is wearing a suit rather than a long, uncomfortable dress. The crowd cheered for the girl and Camden moved up a spot in the line. One more to go...
Flim's interview starts, but Camden doesn't pay attention. He knows as well as any body that his chances are exceptionally lower, coming from one of the lower districts. And he knows that people normally forget about the District 8 tributes until they do something amazing, like make it to the top five. That's when the audience notices the underdogs; they must do something spectacular to do get noticed. And in Camden's case, he may not be noticed.
"Thank you so much, Flim." Dusk says, snapping Camden to attention. "I wish you the best of luck in the arena."
"Thank you, Dusk Shine." The shy girl says as she walks off stage. Camden wipes his hands on the pink pants of his suit and tries to calm down his nerves.
"Wasn't she adorable? The next tribute we have tonight is Camden Pheon from District Eight!" Camden walked on stage and met Dusk half way for a handshake. His hearing became lost under the thunderous applause of the Capitolites so much that he didn't hear Dusk ask the first question.
"Excuse me?" He asked, receiving laughter from the audience. Dusk smiled and looked back to the tribute on her left.
"I think someone's a little nervous." The crowd chuckles under Dusk's comment. "I said that was a wonderful costume you had on at the Parade. Can you tell me about it?" Dusk repeated and Camden nodded. Even though she wasn't him, she could feel his nervousness.
"I was surprised by how wonderful they looked, because last year's tributes didn't look quite representative of District Eight." The crowd laughs again, but they were laughing at his comment, not Dusk's.
Suddenly, the nerves calmed down. He chatted about his training score, something he should be proud of. He also talked about his family back home, throwing in a crocodile tear or two in to reel in some sponsors. Camden's interview went quite well, and he knew that he may be back on this stage, talking about how he won.
"Ladies and gentleman, I give you Camden Pheon of District Eight!" Dusk says at the end of the interview. This won't be the last time you see me either.
Jayd Blair, D9
Camden walks past Jayd, following the Peacekeeper who led him down the stairs. Where do the tributes go when their interview is finished? Jayd will find out in just a few minutes. She shifted in her dress, where the gold shimmered no matter how she moved her body. Her stylists are sticking to the gold theme, placing gold where necessary to show off the color. Jayd's red hair was half tied up, the rest of her hair was in curls down her back. Gold was woven in, and only showed up if she was under the correct lighting. Her dress was a summer like dress, down to her knees and the dominant color was gold. She looked like a little girl, a little girl misplaced in the Hunger Games.
"May I present to you...Jayd Blair from District Nine!" Jayd took her cue and walked to the overly bubbly host. She kept her nerves bottled up so no one could see her fear. She shook the Capitolite's hand and sat in her seat, where sixteen people sat right before her. "Jayd, I must say that you looked lovely in the Tribute Parade. What were your thoughts?"
"I felt like I was back home, surrounded by the gold of the grain that gives us meaning in our country." Jayd said with no hesitation. "I truly loved our costumes."
"Despite your training score, what do you consider your biggest advantage in the arena tomorrow?" Dusk asked. Jayd straightened her back and only looked to Dusk.
"I can say that it must be my intelligence." She says. "It is very hard to fool me."
"I love it! Your confidence is amazing!" Dusk hoots, and the crowd follows her lead. Dusk leaned in a little further and looked Jayd in her blue eyes. "I want to know how you feel about being one of the younger tributes. Do you think you can win, being only fourteen?"
"Dusk, I can promise you that no one should count me out because of my age." Jayd says. "I may be only fourteen, but there were fourteen year old victors before. No one should count me out."
"I wouldn't count you out, ever." Dusk replies. A buzzer sounded and Dusk took that cue to end Jayd's interview. "Ladies and gentleman, Jayd Blair from District Nine!" The crowd roared for the tiny tribute, giving her the admiration she deserves. No one, no matter how old they are, should be counted out of the Games. Stranger things have happened in the arena.
October Huxley, D10
October stood behind the stage, watching the little girl finish her interview. Lanie tried to make an impressive angle, but she couldn't get over her fears of the large crowd watching her every move. Her answers were weak and she tried not to say anything too revealing. She may not get many sponsors, but those numbers could raise when she gets to the top seven. Lanie's interview ended and she was ushered off the stage. She didn't look at anyone when she went off the stage. The nerves really must have gotten to her. She continued to walk, being lead by the Peacekeeper. Before October could realize it, Dusk was calling the male tribute from District 10.
October walked to Dusk Shine, surprised by the amount of Capitolites. All of the Capitol must be here to see who will lose their lives tomorrow. He continued his walk where countless tributes before him took and sat in the chair where many children sat before. How many lives were sacrificed for the Capitol's entertainment? More than he could even count. He took his seat and the audience calmed down.
"Lovely to have you here, October." Dusk says to the large tribute. Last year's tribute could barely tip the scale at seventy pounds. "What has impressed you so far about the Capitol?"
October waited a minute before answering. "The lack of animals." The crowd was taken aback by his answer. Some let out giggles while others waited for Dusk's response.
"Animals? We don't have animals." She says, and the crowd laughed audibly.
"I do come from the livestock district, don't I?" October said. "Everywhere I go in District Ten, I always see animals. I see house animals and cattle, then I see some poultry. District Ten is quite a sight if you are looking for animals." October's response earned laughter from the audience.
"Yes, I can understand why the Capitol is different in that respect." Dusk responded. "I want to talk about one last thing. It's about your brother. I watched the Reaping and my heart twisted when you volunteered for your brother. Can you tell me about him?"
Not another sob story. October thought. He sat straighter and answered without a quiver in his voice. "His name is Oliver. He is only fourteen years old. I would give anything to make sure that he survives with my younger sister, Crissy."
"And I can understand your reason, October." Dusk said, patting his hand. "And what did Oliver say to you before you left?"
"He told me to keep my promise about coming back. And I intend on keeping that promise for him." October answered. He only had one thought as he left the stage: come back for Oliver.
Jack Absonson, D11
Jack was just introduced by Dusk and he was sitting on the tribute's chair, waiting for the interview to be over. The Capitol citizens must be bored by now, and they still have three districts left. Under the lights of the stage, his light blond hair was looking like a shade of white. He sat on the chair with an unforgiving look in his eyes. His suit was a light blue color, made from silk and made him look too girly. That is not the look of an underestimated twelve-year-old. He kept a blank face as Dusk attempted to talk to him.
"What did you think of your training score? Fours are a little disappointing, aren't they?" Her words met deaf ears as he answered.
"I don't deserve a four." His voice snarled as he glanced up at the Gamemakers. What do they know? They have never had to fight for their life at all. If he was a Gamemaker, he'd give every tribute a six. The playing field will be level and no one would have a better chance than anyone else.
"Why not?" Dusk attempted again.
"I'm stronger than a silly four." Jack answered, holding his glare with the Head Gamemaker. That fat, disgusting piece of life shouldn't be in the Capitol. He should be in the districts, where everyone fights for their lives. That Gamemaker calls for food and he gets it within a matter of minutes. Jack was green with envy for that Gamemaker. Fat piece of...
"I want to know why you volunteered. Who was the boy you volunteered for?" Dusk needed an answer out of the younger tribute in the Games. He may be able to win if he just opened up.
"My brother." He answers.
"Why did you do it?"
"He is very sick." He answered nonchalantly.
"What did he say before you left?" That question never gets old.
"He told me to come back and not to die."
Despite Jack's choppy answers, the audience let out sounds of sympathy. He is the youngest tribute, and he did it for a non-selfish reason. He was given a large applause and he may have out done the tributes from 1 or 2. The audience continued to clap for him even when he was off the stage. Maybe every tribute should play the sullen or hostile angle more often. That works like a charm!
Playton Reyes, D12
Meadow's interview completed and the crowd gave her an applause she needed. She is one of the older tributes, and people tend to bet on the tributes who are seventeen and eighteen. That, coupled with her looks, gave her an advantage. She wore an all black dress that clung to her body, showing off her body. Her hair was tied into a complex bun, and she looked like the textbook definition of a perfect tribute. No one would know how she holds up in the arena until tomorrow.
Meadow walked off stage and Playton heard his name being called by Dusk Shine. He walked on stage in a tux similar to Meadow's dress. The black color showed off his eyes, and his hair was slicked back. Everyone could see how the stylist decided to make him seem likeable. He is only twelve, after all. He sat on the tribute's chair and looked into the cameras. He knew Cissa was watching, and he needed to appear strong for her.
"Playton, I must say. Your Parade costume was a little...lacking. How did you feel about your costume?" Dusk asked, her voice raising on the last word.
"Well, District Twelve seems to be only known for coal miners." He started. "No matter how long we weren't in the Games, we will always be slated as the coal miners." A ripple of laughter went through the crowd. His angle is working.
"Yes, that sounds a little irritating." Dusk commented. "Playton, I would like to know about what you are planning to do in the arena. Do you have an alliance or a team or are you going alone?"
"I do have an alliance." Playton says, leaving nothing hidden. "She and I are going to be working together in the arena, helping each other survive. No one can catch us, I can promise you that, Dusk."
"Would you like to disclose the young lady's name?" Dusk asked properly.
"No, I feel like that would give it away." Playton stated. "I want it to be a surprise until tomorrow."
The crowd erupted into applause. Something about the way Playton said his answer gave off a feeling of mystery and darkness. What was he planning to do in the arena? Who was he going to strike dead? Who knows? The buzzer sounded and his time was over. The applause for Playton was deafening. It seems that people really like the younger tributes in the Games. But, not every tribute it twelve or thirteen years old.
Melinda Hanis, D13
Melinda is shifting from foot to foot. She was standing for over an hour waiting for her turn. The boy from 12 was almost finished and she could finally get this interview over with. She was shaking in her heels as the little boy was ushered off the stage. Melinda would have plaited her hair, but her stylist placed it in a bun so Melinda couldn't touch it. Her dress was the color of nuclear radiation, a typical neon green color. Tartan had a suit with the same color, but on Melinda it looked too bright. Her black hair made it stand out against the bright color.
"I am pleased to introduce to you Melinda Hanis from District Thirteen!" Melinda walks up onstage, only looking at the Master of Ceremonies. She keeps her head high, just like her escort taught her. She takes her seat as Dusk begins the interview. "So Melinda. You are the first female tribute from District Thirteen. How does it feel to have that honor?"
"It feels odd." She starts. "You want to make your district proud, but there is a one in twenty-seven chance of you going home." Melinda knows those words are fake. She could actually care less that she is the first female tribute. An honor? These Capitolites have been on too many drugs to notice the deaths of innocent children. She doesn't want this crappy honor. She would like nothing more than to go home.
"How is District Thirteen different from the Capitol?" Dusk asked.
"Well, there are a lot of Peacekeepers there." She starts. "Over four hundred have been called there to protect our homes. And everything is a lot smaller. The Capitol is full of over the top buildings while Thirteen is nothing but one or two story homes." That time, Melinda didn't have to lie.
"I would like to know about your family." Dusk mentions. "Do you have any siblings back at home?"
"Yes, I have a little brother named Danis. He's only two years old. He may not remember who I even was at the end of the Games."
"So, you're saying that you may not win?"
"I may or may not. I may die from a stronger tribute, or I may sneak past them. Who knows?" Melinda's vague answer did nothing to help her with sponsors. She doesn't know it, but the sponsors in the crowd just overlooked her.
Amelie Sage, D14
"Our last district of the night, District Fourteen! This district is a brand new one to Panem, and we are proud to welcome their very first female tribute, Amelie Sage!"
Amelie walked to Dusk Shine in her slim fitting dress. It reached to her palms and and stopped at her calves. It was a deep green color and had the texture of herbs they use at home for healing people. Her hair was in loose curls down her back, and it was clear that her stylist is working on a 'sexy' angle for her. She sat in her chair and looked to her host. "Amelie, I must say that you look wonderful tonight."
"Thank you, Dusk. I have Adrea to thank for the dress. It looks so wonderful." She answers, trying to look as confident as possible.
"Now, I want to know about that seven. That is a very excellent score, Amelie. What do you think will be your advantage in the arena?" Dusk asked.
"I believe that my advantage would be my ability to sneak around and go unnoticed. I also have my brother to help me in the arena at any costs." She says.
"About your brother." Dusk says, patting the back of Amelie's hand. "I believe we were all heartbroken to see a sibling pair enter the arena together. What went through your mind when Blakely volunteered at the Reaping?" Amelie looked down, took a minute to think about it, and looked back up to the Master of Ceremonies.
"I was very shocked to see that my brother, my big brother, volunteered to protect me in the Games." She starts, her voice being clogged with tears. "Even if he protects me to the final two, only one of us can go home. We both can't escape the Games together, and he knows that. But he still volunteered for his position, and I couldn't have stopped him from making his decision."
"Yes, I understand how that feels. But, Blakely made his mind up at the Reaping. I wish you and your brother the best of luck in the Games." Dusk tightens her grip on Amelie's hand and stands up with her. "Ladies and gentleman, I give you the first female tribute from District Fourteen, Amelie Sage!" The audience claps for her while only one thought crosses her mind: I will not play into your hands and die with Blakely. I will find a way to get us home, together.
A/N: I got this one done early! I finished it early so I can get to the Games, which is the next chapter! I want to respond to a few reviewers before I do anything else. mar9215: Thank you so much. I plan to have the original piece up this weekend, so look out for it. I'll link you to it. :) Ramijek: I always look forward to your reviews. You review every part of the chapter, something that I would love if everyone did. I actually didn't make up the word 'Capitolites'. I read it in a fic, but I can't remember which one. I think that is the general term now. :)
I will post a new poll after the bloodbath and I am looking forward to your comments. I am also posting an original story on my Fiction Press account, probably by Saturday but no later than Thanksgiving. I will link everyone to it, and I hope you enjoy it. :)